Device for administering enemata



y 1951 G. E. MCLAREN DEVICE FOR ADMINISTERING ENEMATA Filed May 9, 1949 IN VEN TOR G: ORGE zf. M Z ARE/Y. WWW

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Patented July 3, 1951 DEVICE FOR ADMINISTERING ENEMATA George E. McLaren, Denver, Colo. ApplicationMay 9, 1949, Serial No. 92,227

' 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for administering enemata.

' Certain patients, to whom it is necessary to give enemata, have a weak sphincter muscle of the anus, or have no control thereof, whatever, by reason of certain types of paralysis or other causes. In these cases the well known manner of giving an enema with a catheter which projects into the rectum is unsatisfactory since the patient is unable to retain the injected fluid. Devices have been proposed for use with such patients, such as that shown by the patent to 'Lamson, 2,457,244, granted December 28, 1948, in which an inflatable seal is provided in the rectum above the sphincter muscle. Other devices which have been proposed for this general class of use are shown by the patent to Quimby, 862,507 grant ed August 6, 1907, and the patent to Stratton 1,137,242 granted April 15, 1915. It is to devices of the above identified type that the present invention more particularly relates.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a seal device which engages the exterior portions of the anatomy, around the anus, in a novel and more advantageous manner.

Another object is to provide a' device of the foregoing type through which a fiexible tube may be inserted to any desired distance into the rectum or colon.

A further object is toconstruct such device of transparent material which aids in properly applying the device to the anatomy.

Further objects, advantages, and salient features will become more apparent from a consideration of the description to follow. the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan of the seal block which constitutes the subject of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof taken on line 2-2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation taken on line 33, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end elevation taken on line 4-4, Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5, Figure 2 showing a portion of a hose employed with the seal block above referred to;

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 66, Figure 1; and

Figure '7 is a bottom plan taken on line 1--1, Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the block l0 which forms the seal has an upwardly convex surface H, in its longitudinal direction as best shown in Figures 2 and 6, which surface is generally convex also in its transverse direction as best shown in Figure 5. A slight ogee curve l2, on each side will usually be preferred. In the longitudinal direction, the upwardly convex surface H changes to concave surfaces l3, l4, at each end thereof. The surface again turns upwardly at [5, adjacent concave surface 13, at the left end (Figures 2 and 6), and similarly turns upwardly at [6, adjacent surface I4, at the right end. A circular aperture I'l extends through the block, from top to bottom, this aperture being substantially at the central transverse axis of the block, the upper end thereof extending through the generally central portion of surface II. The

aperture may be slightly curved, as shown in Figure 6, to form a curve which is a general curved continuation of the curve of the rectum.

For an average size adult the block may be approximately four inches in length and two inches in width, constructed of a transparent plastic material. The exact shape of the various curves is illustrative only and may be varied to fit the anatomy of the particular individualz Where precise fitting is required, as where the shape of the patients anatomy may depart from what might roughly be termed average and to which an average shape would not properly conform, an impression is made of the anatomy with any suitable impression material, such as wax or the like, and a mould is then made from this impression. A hardenable liquid plastic is then poured into this mould, a suitable core such as a piece of rubber being employed therein to form the aperture ll. After hardening, the

- device is ready for use. If a patient is to be confined for any length of time and requires frequent enemata, it will usually be preferred to construct a block to the exact shape of the anatomy in the manner above described. This not only ensures the most exact fit, but by reason of the patient having a block for his individual use, it entirely eliminates any possibility of transmission of communicable diseases from one patient to another. The block may, of course, be sterilized by boiling, if desired. In the use of the device the patient is placed in a convenient position, such as on the side of his body, and the nurse or other attendant places the block between the buttocks with the upper convex portion H abutting the anus. It will be noted that the surface at H; is somewhat lower than that at I5, the surface [6 abutting the anatomy substantially over the coccyx, and the surface I5 abutting the perineum. Since the anatomy over the coccyx is relatively hard and rigid, the surfaces between hose.

3 V H and I5 may be firmly pressed against this region without discomfort to the patient and at the same time provide a support so that the block does not slip or move from its desired position. The block may be flat or any other shape at the bottom side and if desired any sort of finger engaging portions may be employed, such as cut out ends I8 which may receive the tips of the fingers of the attendant. These may be ribbed or roughened as desired.

Before the block is positioned against the anatomy, as above described, a rubber or other flexible hose [9 is inserted into the aperture I1 and fed therethrough to any desired distance which it is to extend into the rectum or colon. This hose must, of course, fit the aperture sufflciently snug to prevent leakage of fluid through the aperture around the outer surface of the. The length of the extending portion may then be adjusted as desired. Fluid is then injected in any well known manner and will be retained as long as the block is maintained against the anatomy. The fluid, of course, may be any of the various enemata such as cleansing, nutritive and many others.

While the material has been described as a plastic material it will be apparent that any other suitable material may be employed.

Having described the invention what I claim as new is:

1. A device for assisting in administering enemata, comprising; an elongated seal block having an oblong mound-like central portion of a shape to conform to the shape of the anus and a strip area of the anatomy immediately thereabout, upwardly extending portions at each end of the mound-like portion, one being constructed to conform to the anatomy covering the coccylx and the other conforming to the shape of the perineum, and an aperture extending through the seal block transversely to the longitudinal axis thereof having a portion in alignment with the anal opening.

' to conform to the shape of the anus and a strip area of .the anatomy thereabout, an upwardly extending portion at one end of the mound-like portion shaped to conform to the anatomy covering the coccyx, an aperture extending through the seal block transversely to the longitudinal axis thereof having a portion in alignment with the anal opening, and a flexible hose of a 'size adapted to be threaded through the opening to a desired distance beyond the. anal opening and into the rectum, the outer wall of the hose being in fluid sealing engagement with the wall of the aperture.

GEORGE MoLAREN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date v 1,137,242 Stratton Apr. 27, 1915 2,243,299 Travers May 27, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 192,347 Germany Dec. 2, 1907 

